IUCRC Phase I Oregon State University: Center for Concrete Advancement Network (CAN)

波特兰水泥混凝土是建筑环境中无处不在的元素，是世界范围内建筑和基础设施发展的重要组成部分。混凝土是最广泛使用的制造材料，它的生产是温室气体排放的一个贡献者。水泥生产产生的二氧化碳占全球能源相关二氧化碳排放量的4-8%。在施工期间和混凝土的整个使用寿命期间，都需要减少二氧化碳的排放。混凝土进步网络（CAN）是由威斯康星大学密尔沃基分校和俄勒冈州立大学建立的产学研合作研究第一阶段中心（IUCRC），致力于降低混凝土的全球变暖潜能值（GWP），同时提高混凝土的长期耐久性，从而实现显著的经济和社会效益。CAN专注于实现纳米技术的进步、可回收性、数字制造、多尺度建模、人工智能和先进的测试技术，将用于快速跟踪前沿概念在这个经常依赖旧技术的关键工业部门的实施。混凝土领域的突破可以通过基于模型的预测和验证相结合的实验方法来实现，从而加快技术从概念到实施的转移步伐。CAN中心的目标是开发降低全球变暖潜能值的创新混凝土混合物，同时为成员公司建立量化全球变暖潜能值和性能的方法，同时为整个行业培养多样化和熟练的科学和工程人员。因此，CAN活动对美国经济具有重要的战略意义，因为它们将为国家日益恶化的基础设施提供长期解决方案，并满足交通和建筑的需求。CAN俄勒冈州项目的重点是开发改善混凝土性能预测的方法，特别是与耐久性、副产品利用率和减少碳足迹有关的方法。新的实验测量技术和计算工具将被展示，为行业提供价值。俄勒冈州立大学将主要关注四个主要研究领域：1)增加“非规格”、天然和“工业副产品”补充胶凝材料的使用，以降低混凝土的全球变暖潜势；2)碳减排、固碳和可碳化粘合剂的使用；3)分子和热力学建模；4)混凝土耐久性、寿命和使用寿命建模。预计工作将侧重于开发混合料比例工具，从而产生具有低GWP的混合料，以及更好地考虑混凝土使用寿命排放的方法。先进的实验技术，如中子射线照相，计划评估流体输送和碳化对混凝土发展和性能的影响。此外，还将进行量化混凝土耐久性的工作，其中可能包括对暴露于酸中的混凝土的使用寿命预测的更新，以及商业添加剂在减少运输和酸损害方面的作用。最后，培训计划旨在帮助培养下一代工程师，同时也为从业人员提供信息更新。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Portland cement concrete is a ubiquitous element of the built environment and is a crucial component of building and infrastructure development worldwide. The production of concrete, the most widely used manufactured material, is a contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The production of cement results in 4-8% of global energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. There is a need to reduce the CO2 emissions both during construction and throughout the life of the concrete. The Concrete Advancement Network (CAN), an Industry-University Cooperative Research Phase I Center (IUCRC) established by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Oregon State University, focuses on reducing the global warming potential (GWP) of concrete while improving the long-term durability of concrete thereby enabling significant economic and societal benefits. CAN focuses on implementing nanotechnology advancements, recyclability, digital manufacturing, multi-scale modeling, artificial intelligence, and advanced testing techniques will be used to fast-track the implementation of cutting-edge concepts into this key industrial sector, which frequently relies on older technology. Breakthroughs in the concrete field can be achieved using model-based prediction and verification combined with experimental methods, thereby advancing the pace of technology transfer from concept to implementation. The CAN center aims to develop innovative concrete mixtures with reduced GWP while establishing methods to quantify the GWP and performance for member companies while training a diverse and skilled science and engineering workforce for the industry at large. Thus, CAN activities are strategically important to the U.S. economy because they will provide long-term solutions for the nation’s deteriorating infrastructure and meet the demand for transportation and buildings.The CAN Oregon State site is focused on the development of approaches to improve concrete performance predictions specifically as it relates to durability, by-product utilization, and a reduced carbon footprint. Novel experimental measurement techniques and computational tools will be showcased that can provide value to the industry. Oregon State will focus primarily on four primary research thrust areas: 1) the increased use of ‘off-spec’, natural, and ‘industrial by-product’ supplementary cementitious materials to reduce the global warming potential of concrete, 2) carbon reduction, sequestration, and use of carbonatable binders, 3) molecular and thermodynamic modeling and 4) concrete durability, longevity, and service life modeling. It is anticipated that work will focus on the development of mixture proportioning tools that result in mixtures with low GWP as well as approaches that better consider the service life emissions of concrete. Advanced experimental techniques like neutron radiography are planned to assess the influence of fluid transport and carbonation on concrete development and performance. Additionally, work will be performed to quantify the durability of concrete which will likely include updates to the service life prediction of concrete exposed to acid and the role of commercial additives in reducing transport and acid damage. Finally, training programs are planned to help prepare the next generation of engineers while also providing information updates for practitioners.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.